Riverside County, CA

(Calimesa-AP) -- The California Department of Forestry says
crews are beginning to get the upper hand on a 300-acre wildfire
that is threatening homes in Riverside County.
The fire was reported shortly before 2 p-m. in the Cherry Oaks
area, which is about 30 miles west of Palm Springs.
Spokeswoman Michelle McClelland says the fire has damaged one
garage but firefighters were able to save the home.
McClelland says the brush fire is threatening about 100 homes
but "the threat is dissipating as the hours go by." A voluntary
evacuation was issued for 150 residents.
More than 250 firefighters are battling the blaze, joined by
helicopters, airplanes and bulldozers.
The fire has burned mostly scrub oak but is threatening several
cherry and apple farms and horse ranches.

Update 02:30 EDT 8/12

CALIMESA, Calif. (AP) - Firefighters battled a fast-moving brush
fire Sunday that tore through 300 acres in Riverside County, forced
150 residents to evacuate and threatened 100 homes.
More than 250 firefighters fought the fire with helicopters,
airplanes and bulldozers after it was reported at 1:45 p.m. in the
Cherry Oaks section of Riverside County. The area is about 30 miles
west of Palm Springs.
The fire, fueled by dry scrub oak, threatened several cherry and
apple farms as well as horse ranches near Cherry Valley, said
Michelle McClelland, a spokeswoman with the California Department
of Forestry.
No homes were damaged, but one garage was reportedly burned.
As nightfall approached the fire began to die down. McClelland
said it was "somewhat controlled" but could not give a
containment figure.
"The threat is dissipating as the hours go by," she said. No
injuries were reported and the cause of the fire was under
investigation.
The fire was one of several burning across the state as
temperatures soared above 100 degrees in some areas.
One blaze led to a severe accident when a fire engine hurrying
to fight it plunged 60 feet down a freeway embankment, critically
injuring three firefighters.
The California Department of Forestry firefighters were driving
on the Barstow Freeway en route to a 20-acre blaze in Lytle Creek,
north of Fontana in Rialto. It was not immediately known what
caused the crash, which occurred around 5:45 p.m.
Meanwhile the 121,200-acre McNally fire crackling through
Sequoia National Forest was 70 percent contained Sunday and had
cost more than $28 million to fight.
In Yosemite National Park to the north, several small fires were
burning in the park's White Wolf area. The National Interagency
Fire Center Web site said some of the blazes could be seen from the
park's scenic Tioga Road.
A wildfire that started two weeks ago in eastern San Diego
County was 85 percent contained. Full containment of the Pines fire
was expected Monday evening instead of Sunday as previously
predicted, said Forestry Department spokeswoman Audrey Hagen.
The Pines fire destroyed dozens of homes and burned nearly
62,000 acres since it broke out July 29 near the town of Julian.
The fire started about 60 miles northeast of San Diego when a
National Guard helicopter looking for marijuana plants clipped a
power line.
More than 35 firefighters suffered minor injuries fighting the
stubborn blaze that officials said had claimed 37 homes, 116
outbuildings and 169 vehicles. It was 80 percent contained Aug. 5
before it jumped a containment line and quickly spread.
Close to 2,500 firefighters remained on the scene and the cost
of fighting the blaze was estimated at more than $16 million.
Mandatory and voluntary evacuations were ordered for parts of
Pine Hills, North Peak and other areas, but some families were
allowed to return to their homes over the weekend. Those who live
in the northeast portion of the Los Coyotes Indian Reservation near
the Cleveland National Forest were still being kept away.
Elsewhere in Riverside County, firefighters were trying to
contain a 200-acre brush fire in Mias Canyon. The Pass fire broke
out at 4:30 p.m. about five miles southeast of Calimesa.
Firefighters on Saturday contained the 785-acre Pope fire in
Napa County. Officials cited a man suspected of starting the blaze
with a spark from his gasoline-powered lawn mower. No structures
were damaged and fire officials planned to bill the man for the
cost of the suppression effort.